An elderly motorist who had lost his way had to be rescued after reversing down a canal-side embankment in Keighley.

The man, who was in his 70s and did not want to be named, had tried to turn his car around on the narrow track to Riddlesden Golf Club when it slipped down a steep embankment.

It was stopped from falling into the canal when it hit a tree.

A passing driver, who tried to hoist the car to safety by tying a tow rope to the car, dialled 999.

Sub officer Paul Fawcett of Bingley fire station said the man was lucky to be alive.

"If it hadn't been for the tree he would have ended up in the water," he said.

"We think he must have been trying to turn round and ended up reversing down the embankment.

"It's a grassy embankment and this probably caused him to slip further.

"He's lucky he didn't end up in the water and fortunate that someone drove past to steady the car while waiting for us to arrive."

Firefighters from Bingley hoisted the car to safety.

The man was not injured.

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